U.S. President Donald Trump has announced his intention to attend the FIFA Club World Cup final scheduled for Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The announcement comes as FIFA revealed the opening of a new office in Trump Tower, New York, as part of its strategy to expand its footprint across the United States.
The current Club World Cup, being hosted in the U.S. for the first time in its newly expanded format, precedes the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
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The final match will feature Chelsea and either Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid. Notably, the same stadium will also host the 2026 World Cup final.
Trump’s appearance continues a trend of heightened involvement in sports during his second term. Earlier this year, he made history by becoming the first sitting U.S. president to attend the Super Bowl.
He also chairs a White House taskforce dedicated to preparations for both major FIFA tournaments.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed appreciation for the U.S. government’s engagement: “We have received such a big support from the government and from the president with the White House taskforce for the FIFA Club World Cup and for the FIFA World Cup next year. ”
He also underscored the importance of FIFA’s new office in New York: “FIFA is a global organisation and to be global you have to be local, you have to be everywhere, so we have to be in New York.”
With an existing FIFA office already operating in Miami, the decision to open another in Trump Tower reflects a strategic effort to deepen ties with the U.S. government.
Infantino addressed concerns from international fans regarding the country’s restrictive immigration policies, some of which have generated global controversy. “FIFA is a global organisation and to be global you have to be local… fans will be welcomed to the U.S.”
Despite facing criticism over immigration and a proposed extension of travel bans to more than 30 countries, Trump appears to be doubling down on sports diplomacy.In addition to backing FIFA events, Trump recently announced that Washington D.C. will host the 2027 NFL Draft. He has also made multiple appearances at UFC fights, including a recent one in New Jersey, and has pledged that the White House will host a UFC event in the coming year.
